The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #83741 Message #2114679
Posted By: Charley Noble
30-Jul-07 - 09:29 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Love Me I'm a Liberal (Phil Ochs)
Subject: Lyr Add: LOVE ME, I'M YOUR LANDLORD
Tenants organizers at university towns in Michigan composed their own parody of this song for their amusement back in the late 1970's. The lyrics ran:
I remember when I was a tenant, I remember the strife and the pain; I swore to reform the system, That produced such ill-gotten gain, So now that I'm your landlord, You've no reason left to complain – So love me, love me, love me, I'm your landlord!
I helped form the first tenants union, For that I should get a gold star; I love each one of my tenants, I even lend them my car; But this talk about rent control, That's going a bit too far...
I cried when my tenants had no heat, Tears ran down my spine; I mourned when that old furnace broke down, As though I'd lost a grandparent of mine; But, you know, they had it coming, When they were late with the rent last time...
I cheered when old Epstein was rent struck, My faith in the system restored; And I'm glad that Trony went bankrupt, They charged rents no one could afford, And I love each one of my tenants, But I hope that they don't move next door...
Oh, those people who work for McKinley, Should all hang their heads in shame; I don't understand how their minds work – Property maintenance is part of the game; But if you ask me to roll back my rents, I'll have the cops take down your name...